Coupler



E. P. KINNE COUPLER May 14, 1935.

Filed Fab. 24, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inde'f: Edmund P Kinn@ tion. It will therefore be apparent that in the absence of lug 25 the lock leg would be free to move in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 5 of the drawings, especially after wear has occurred between the parts so that the overhanging relation between the lift link and anti-creep lug is increased thereby tending to render unlocking ineiective.

In this construction, as well as in the extended shoulder construction shown in Figure 3, there was still a considerable expanse of lock eg chamber shown at Z6, and dirliculty was encountered in that if the lifter link i@ twisted slightly it caused a binding at the upper edge 28 of the slot 3i), the lock pivoting around the point of support 32 causing the lower portion of the lock leg to move a substantial distance toward the front wall 35 of the coupler, which disposed the eX- tended shoulder 38 or the shoulder iii in a position with respect to the shoulder' or anti-creep lug i8 wherein it was imposible to release the anti-creep to operate the coupler. During upward movement of the lifter link, friction on the surface 28 between the pin i5 and leg if tends to cause the lock leg to tilt forward about its pivot point 32. When the pivot pin l finally slides up the slot after throwing the lock leg against the front wall, the projection on the shoulder interferes with the anti-creep lug before the pin E5, which constitutes the loose connection in the slot 3B, reaches the rear of the siot to thrust the lock against the back of the lock chamber.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 1 and 2, the lifter link 39 as shown in Figure 3 with the extended shoulder Sii, is retained but there is provided a thickened wall portion itil on the front wall adjacent the lug I8 so that the effective width 42 of the lock leg chamber is reduced. In this construction, the forward pivotal action of the lock leg is reduced to such a degree that even though the lock leg is in contact with the front wall 40, the extended shoulder 38 in its upward movement in the slot Sii permits release of the anti-creep such as indicated in the dotted lines in Figure l. That is, the shoulder 38 will clear the anti-creep lug i8. Direct vertical movement of the lock leg, however, still necessarily causes engagement of the shoulder 38 and I8 whereby the anti-creep is effective as shown in Figure 2. It will thus be seen that with the construction illustrated in Figures l and 2, there is provided a coupler construction which is positive in operation, and, though tipping of the parts may occur due to wear, the relation of the parts is always such that the anti-creep will function in direct vertical movement of the lock and lifter, but will be rendered inoperative by proper operation of the uncoupling rod for releasing the knuckle or raising the lock.

As clearly disclosed in the drawings, the lug [i8 defines the front wall of the coupler head which cooperates with the lock leg whereby the lift link and anti-creep lug effect a positive anti-creep and positive unlocking. As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the front wall as dened by this lug 40 is offset forwardly and the rear wall of the coupler is formed for effecting well-defined results as will be set out more fully.

In assembling the lock and lift link, the lock leg I2 is lowered as shown in Figure 9 of the drawings to a position so that the lower end of slot 3i! will be disposed below the head of the coupler to receive pivot pin I6 of the lift member. This lowering of the lock leg is permitted by the forward inclined offset I1 of the front Wall of the coupler as defined by the lug 4B and also by the formation of the rear wall of the coupler head which slopes rearwardly as at i9 to provide clearance with the lock leg. It will also be noted that the rear wall at i9 is also adapted to cooperate with the lock leg as at 23 just above the lock-set shoulder 25a for guiding the lock leg into the position shown in Figure 9 whereby this assembly of the parts can be effected.

lThe upper portion of the front wall as dened by the lug 40 is likewise offset forwardly to `provide for the various movements of the lock leg. 1n a coupler of the type described, the knuckle thrower, as shown in Figure l0, has limited movement about its pivot whereby the end 2l@ cooperating with the lock leg has limited movement. During movement of the lock into its lock-set position, the lock leg engages the end Zia and when the shoulder 25a thereof finally seats upon the same, this end of the knuckle thrower assumes the full line position of Figure l0. When the knuckle of the coupler is opened, the tail 23e of the knuckle raises the lock, tilts it and drags the lock leg from its seat on the top of the thrower. The friction between the shoulder 25e and end 21a is suihcient during this opening of the tail and the movement of the lock into its unlocked position from lock-set position to create a tendency to move the end of the thrower into its dotted line position of Figure l0, and it is because of this movement of the thrower that it is necessary to offset the front wall as defined by lug il as at 3i.

It will also be appreciated that the formation of the rear wall at l!) permits proper movement of the lock leg between lock-set and locked positions, as well as between lock-set and unlocked positions.

Referring to Figure '7, there are certain times when the lock leg i2 assumes a position contacting the rear wall. `That is, it is disposed to the rear so that the condition of operation is that the slot 35 must be of such length as to provide a proper horizontal movement for the anti-creep engaging member 3%. More speciiically, the distance C defining the centers of the pivot pin I6 must be equal to or greater than the distance B.

Referring now to Figure 8, the lock leg here is forward, and, in order to obtain positive unlocking, i

the distance C must be equal to or greater than distance D.

It is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiment of the device shown, which is merely by way of illustration and not limitation, as various and other forms of the device will of course be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

l. In a coupler, the combination of a head having an opening for passage of the leg of a lock, a lock having a leg movable in said opening, a bottom lift member for lifting said lock from a locking position, said member having a shoulder, and an anti-creep lug extending into said opening and cooperating with said shoulder to prevent said lock from creeping into a non-locking position, the front and rear walls of said opening cooperating with forward and rear surfaces on said lock leg to provide limited forward or rearward movement of said lock leg about a pivot point above the engagement of the lock leg surfaces therewith and to permit substantially vertical movement of the lock in service, said front wall being provided with a forwardly offset surface adapted to allow a greater freedom of movement of the lock leg between said frontand rear walls of the `opening when thelock leg is in an abnormally lower position and the lock is being assembled with said head and the lock lifter member is being assembled with said lock.

.2. In a coupler, the combination of a head having an opening for passage lof the leg of a lock, a lock having a leg movable in said opening, a bottom lift member for lifting said lock from a locking position, said member having a shoulder, and an anti-creep lug extending into said vopening and cooperating with said shoulder to prevent said lock from creeping into a non-locking position, the front and rear walls of said opening cooperating with forwardand rear surfaces on said lock leg to provide limited forward or rearward `mally lower position and the lock is being aesemblecl with said head and the lool: lifter member is being assembled with said lock, said front wall being further provided with a forwardly olfset surface adapted to allow movement of said lock leg during forward movement thereof upon unseating of the same from its lock-set position.

3. In a coupler, the combination of a head having van opening for passage of the leg of a lock, a lock having a leg movable in said opening, a bottom lift member for lifting said lock from a locking position, said member having a shoulder, and an anti-creep lug extending into said opening and cooperating with said shoulder to prevent `'said lock from creeping into a non-locking position, the front and rear walls of said opening cooperating with forward and rear surfaces on said lock leg to provide limited forward or rearward movement ofV said lock leg about a pivot above the engagement of the lock leg surfaces therewith and to permit substantially vertical movement of the lock in service, said lift member being movable relativeto said Vleg whereby said shoulder clears said lug during locking and unlocking movement thereof, said front and rear walls being disposed `to maintain said lock leg in a locking position whereby said anti-creep lug overhangs said shoulder to cooperate therewith for effecting an anticreep, said rear wall and said lock leg being adapted to bear upon each other on both sides of a line substantially through the center of said leg and opening substantially `parallel with the longitudinal axis of said coupler Vthereby tending to prevent twisting of said lock which would tend to increase the overlapping relation of said lift member andanti-creep lug thus tending to render unlocking ineffective.

4. In a coupler, the combination of a head having an opening for passage of the leg of a lock, a lock having a leg movable in said opening, a bottom lift member for lifting said lock from a locking position, said member having a shoulder, and an anti-creep lug extending into said opening and cooperating with said shoulder to prevent saidlocl from creeping into a non-locking position, the front and rear walls of said opening cooperating with forward and rear surfaces on said lock leg to provide limited forward or rearward movement of said lock legabout a pivot point above the 'engagement of the lock leg surfaces therewith and to permit substantially vertical movement of the lool; in service, the upper portion of said front wall being offset forwardly to permit freer movement of the leg during forward movement thereof upon unseating of the same from its lock-set position and the lower portion of said front wall being offset forwardly to permit said lock leg to be lowered below operative position for the assembly of said lift member with said lock leg.

5. In a coupler, the combination of a head having an opening for passage of the leg of a lock, a lock having a leg movable in said opening, a bottom lift member for lifting saidlock from a lool:- ing position, said member having a shoulder, and an anti-creep lug extending into said opening and cooperating with said shoulder to prevent said lock from creeping into a non-locking position, the front and rear walls of said opening cooperating with forward and rear surfaces on said lock leg to provide limited forward or rearward movement of Vsaid lock leg about a pivot point above the engagement of the lock leg surfaces therewith and to permit substantially vertical movement of the lock in service, said front wall being provided with a forwardly offset surfaceV a foremost substantially vertical surface thereof which cooperates with said leg when said loci: is in a normal unlocked position for guiding said leg into said abnormally low position for assembling said lock lifted member and lock.Y

6. 1n a coupler, the combination of a head having an opening for passage of the leg of a look, a

lock having a leg movable in said opening, a bottom lift member for lifting said lock from a locking position, said member having a shoulden, and an anti-creep lug extending into said opening and cooperating with said shoulder to prevent said lock from creeping into a non-locking position, the front and rear walls of said opening cooperating with forward and rear surfaces on said lock leg to provide limited forward or rearward movement of said lock leg about a pivot point above the engagement ofthe lock leg surfaces therewith and to permit substantially vertical movement of the lock in service, saidfront wall being provided with a forwardly tapering offset i surface adapted to allow a greater freedom of movement of the lock leg between said front and rear walls of the opening when the lock leg is in an abnormally lower position and the lock is being assembled with said head and the lool; lifter member is being `assembled with said lock, said rear wall having a .rearwardly extending inclined portion above a foremost substantially vertical surface thereof which cooperates with said leg when said lock is in a normal unlocked position for guiding said leg into said abnormally low position forassembling said lock lifter member and lock.

'7. In a coupler, the combination of a head having an opening for passage of the leg of a lock, a lock having a leg movable in said opening, a bottom lift member for lifting said lock from a locking position, said member having a shoulder extending in the direction of thelength of said coupler, andan anti-creep lug extending into said opening and cooperating with said shoulder to prevent said lock from creeping into a nonlocking position, the front and rear walls of said opening cooperating with forward and rear surfaces on said lock leg to provide limited forward or rearward movement of said lock leg about a pivot above Lne engagement of the lock leg surfaces therewith and to permit substantially vertical movement of the lock in service, said lift member being movable relative to said leg whereby said shoulder` clears said lug during locking and unlocking movements thereof, said front and rear walls being constructed and arranged to maintain said lock leg in a locking position whereby the greater portion of said anti-creep lug extending beyond the lock cooperating portion of one of said walls overhangs said shoulder to cooperate therewith for effecting a positive anti-creep and whereby a positive unlocking is effected by the positive disengagement of the anti-creep lug and shoulder at all times as the lock leg is raised.

8. In a coupler, the combination of a head having an opening for the passage of the leg of a look, a knuckle pivotally connected to said head, a lock for said knuckle having a leg movable in said opening, a bottom lift member for lifting said lock from a locking position, an anti-creep lug extending into said opening adapted to be engaged by said lift member for preventing said lock from creeping into a non-locking position, and laterally spaced lugs cooperating with said lock and extending into said opening tending to prevent twisting of said lock which would tend to increase the overlapping relation of said lift member and anti-creep lug thus tending to render unlocking ineffective.

9. In a coupler, the combination of a head having an opening for the passage of the leg of a lock, a knuckle pivotally connected to said head, a lock for said knuckle having the leg movable in said opening, a bottom lift member for lifting said lock from a locking position, said member having an extended shoulder portion offset therefrom in the direction of the length of the coupler, anti-creep means adapted to be engaged by the extended shoulder portion for preventing said lock from creeping into a non-locking position, and laterally spaced lugs cooperating with said lock and extending into said opening tending to prevent twisting of said lock which would tend to increase the overlapping relation of said lift member and anti-creep lug thus tending to render unlocking ineffective.

10. In a coupler, the combination of a head having an opening for the passage of the leg of a lock, a knuckle pivotally connected to said head, a lock for said knuckle having a leg movable in said opening, a bottom lift member for lifting said lock from a locking position, an anti-creep lug extending into said opening adapted to be engaged by said lift member for preventing said lock from creeping into a non-locking position when said leg is in a given position, the rear wall of said opening and said lock leg being adapted to bear upon each other on both sides of a line substantially through the center of said leg and opening substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of said coupler thereby tending to prevent twisting of said lock which would tend to increase the overlapping relation of said lift member and anticreep lug thus tending to render unlocking ineffective.

1l. In a coupler, the combination of a head having an opening for passage of the leg of a lock,

a lock having a leg movable in said opening, a bottom lift member for lifting said lock from a locking position, said member having a shoulder, and an anti-creep lug extending into said opening and cooperating with said shoulder to prevent said lock from creeping into a non-locking position, the front and rear walls of said opening cooperating with forward and rear surfaces on said lock leg to provide limited forward or rearward movement of said lock leg about a pivot point above the engagement of the lock leg surface therewith and to permit substantially vertical movement of the lock in service, said front and rear walls being disposed to maintain said lock leg in a locking position whereby a positive anticreep is effected between said shoulder and anticreep lug and a positive unlocking is effected by the positive disengagement of the anti-creep lug and shoulder at all times as the lock leg is raised, said front wall being provided with a forwardly offset surface adapted to allow normal operative movement of said lock leg during forward movement thereof upon unseating of the same from its lock-set position.

12. In a coupler, the combination of a head having an opening for passage of the leg of a lock, a lock having a leg movable in said opening, a bottom lift member for lifting said lock from a locking position, said member having a shoulder, and an anti-creep lug extending into said 5 opening and cooperating with said shoulder to prevent said lock from creeping into a non-locking position, the front and rear walls of said opening cooperating with forward and rear surfaces on said lock leg to provide limited forward f or rearward movement of said lock leg about a pivot point above the engagement of the lock leg surface therewith and to permit substantially vertical movement of the lock in service, said front and rear walls being disposed to maintain said lock leg in a locking position whereby a positive anti-creep is effected between said shoulder and anti-creep lug and a positive unlocking is effected by the positive disengagement of the anti-creep lug and shoulder at all times as the lock leg is raised, said front wall being provided with a forwardly offset surface adapted to allow a greater freedom of movement of the lock leg between said front and rear walls of the opening when the lock leg is in an abnormally lower having an opening for passage of the leg of a lock, a look having a leg movable in said opening, a bottom lift member for lifting said lock from a locking position, said member having a shoulder, and an anti-creep lug extending into said opening and cooperating with said shoulder to prevent said lock from creeping into a non-locking position, the front and rear walls of said opening cooperating with forward and rear surfaces on said lock leg to provide limited forward or rearward movement of said lock leg about a pivot point above the engagement of the lock leg surface therewith and to permit substantially vertical movement of the lock in service, said front and rear walls being disposed to maintain said lock leg in a locking position whereby a positive anti-creep is effected between said shoulder and anti-creep lug and a positively unlocking is effected by the positive disengagement of the anti-creep lug and shoulder at all times as the e,oo1,197

lock leg is raised, said front wall being provided with a forwardly offset surface adapted to allow a greater freedom of movement of the lock leg between said iront and rear walls of the opening when the look leg is in an abnormally lower position and the lock is being assembled with said head and the lock lift'member is being assembled with said lock, said front Wall being further provided with a forwardly offset surface adapted to allow normal operative movement of said lock leg during forward movement thereof upon unseating of the same from its look-set position.

EDMUND P. KINNE.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,001,197. May 14, 1935.

EDMUND P. KINNE.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the primed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction .as follows: Page 3, seeondcolumll, line 39, olaim 5, or"lifted" read lifter; and page il, second column, line 73, claim i3, lor "positively" read positive; and that the said Letters Patent shouldbe read with these cori-eoliens therein that the same may oonorm to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 25th day of June, A. D. 1935.

Bryan M. Battey (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents; 

